Yesterday, apparently because this blog published the name of murder victim Devonte Coppage and provided details of his life before any other media entity, page views on this blog exploded through the roof.
The previous page view record happened over Labor Day weekend last year and, in like manner, involved JNS blog having the name of a murder victim (Chukwumah "Terry" Okolie) before any other media entity. That page view record stood at 4,664.
The new record shatters that number. The new record for January 6, 2014 is...
...6,892.
The numbers were helped along by the fact a reporter with the St. Paul Pioneer Press credited this blog, in a tweet, for having the name of the victim before other media.
A shout out to John Hoff @ Adventures of Johnny Northside, http://ow.ly/slSKD . Has blogged about Coppage homicide, had vic's name early.
The City Pages blog also acknowledged JNS Blog for a secondhand photo credit, the origin of the photo being the Facebook page of Devonte Coppage.
It should, of course, be acknowledged that JNS blog obtained the name from North Vent Facebook page sources, but this Facebook forum may not meet the definition of a "media source."
Or does it?
Every day community-based, grassroots social media is able to compete toe-to-toe with large and well-heeled mainstream media sources, at least in regard to a specific story from time to time. But is it really competition? I say we're all part of the same media ecosystem, more cooperative than competitive. If JNS blog shares information that provides leads to mainstream media, I am happy to help.
Heaven knows I draft off THEIR leads all the time, obtaining the names of both victims and accused criminals, then digging deeper to find more information. It's a big, wonderful world of information and ideas being shared.
Now then...
What the hell can be done about young criminals leading dead-end lives going around and killing each other? Frequently, this blog has facts.
But I don't have answers.
Even though you take a lot of crap, John, for seemingly dredging up irrelevant facts about dead young men, I think your blog could be doing some good for youngsters on the edge of thug life. I've showed to my son some of the photos you've extracted from dead young men's Facebook pages. The "stacks" of $20 bills, the Gucci belt buckles, the tats & sagging pants, the photos of them mugging with guns, "lean", "molly" and other various drugs - all of that correlates to a lot of their friends who aren't yet dead. As the saying goes, you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas. It sounds like Devonte Coppage may have been shot by someone who'd mistakenly thought Coppage had shot him (when really he'd accidentally shot himself!). So it was all a big "mistake". Well, among the many mistakes made by young Mr. Coppage was being anywhere near someone with a gun. Hell, half of the murders in Minneapolis would be avoided if people were back in their own homes by midnight. If you're rolling dice on the streets @ 3 AM, you might as well shoot yourself and cut out the middleman. So if your blog shows to young people that - surprise - hanging around with people who flaunt their guns, cash & drugs radically increases their odds of getting caught in the crossfire, then it ought to help them make better life choices. Unfortunately most won't. There's no fixing stupid, I guess.
ReplyDeleteYes I'm sure the gang members read all the trash written about their dead friends on this blog and say''cuzz i'm finna go to Harvard dis aint cool.'' Stupid is thinking the talking trash about generations of dysfunction is the answer.
ReplyDeleteSo Sinkfield gets sentenced to only nine fugging years today?
ReplyDeleteThere is no justice in this world.
Meaty's murderer, Mr. Sinkfield, will be out in five years max. He will chill knowing that when he gets out he can resume taking out others who might threaten him. Then someone takes him out. No innocent bystanders and it is okay with me.
ReplyDeleteA lot of dead guys' relatives read this blog, but not all are already committed gang members. There are some 12 - 14 year olds who could go either way.
ReplyDeleteBig question? Where is Devonte Coppage's body? I would like to pay respect during wake and funeral and send flowers. Why no obituary listing or notice of death in the paper yet?
ReplyDeleteI do not have an answer for that. I can tell you, however, that the usual suspects are trying to raise money for a funeral. There was a brief effort on North Vent Facebook page, which didn't go anywhere when this blogger made comments about this guy's criminal record contrasted against DECENT people in the neighborhood who need and deserve help...
ReplyDeleteAnd, I might add here and now, are still ALIVE to be helped.
So maybe they haven't raised enough money for a funeral. Maybe nobody has organized a funeral. Maybe there is a need to keep the body in case the criminal defense team wants to have a second autopsy performed. Your comment on this blog (info unconfirmed) is the first time I've heard the question raised.
The USUAL suspects?! XOXOXOXOXOOX
ReplyDeletejan. 10 @3:06 p.m. wants to know where D.C.s body is to pay respect? I would like to know so I can punch him in the ribs one last time and watch the purple drank shoot out of his ass
ReplyDeleteWhy would you EVER post a comment like the one from anon @9:32? Lord forgive them all.
ReplyDelete